MORE NEW MEXICAN PARENTS ARE DECIDING NOT TO VACINATE THEIR CHILDREN. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER TODD KURTZ JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS NOW DOING. THE NUMBERS ARE RISING SO FAST, OFFICIALS ARE STUDYING WHO THESE PARENTS ARE AND WHY THEY'RE PASSING ON IMMUNIZATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IT'S AN ALARMING TREND IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. FEWER CHILDREN GETTING VACCINATED AGAINST DISEASES LIKE WHOOPING COUGH, MEASLES AND THE FLU. ANN PENTLER --some locations and some schools may have as high as 10-15% of kids who are not protected. DOCTORS ARE CONCERNED. THEY SAY WHEN FEWER PEOPLE ARE IMMUNIZED... THE OVERALL POPULATION IS WEAKENED AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AN OUTBREAK. ANN PENTLER --"it can affect anyone not just kids because children come home to families and come home to neighborhoods and go to the mall. HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY. THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS PASSING ON VACCINATIONS ARE CAUCASIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE AT LEAST A 4 YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE,. THE MOST COMMON REASON GIVEN IS PERSONAL BELIEF. ANNA PENTLER-- There is a lot of misinformation out there and what we're trying to do is find out what misinformation people are looking at.. OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT A DECADE AGO A STUDY WAS RELEASED LINKING VACCINES TO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ... AND MANY PARENTS DECIDED AGAINST IMMUNIZING THEIR CHILDREN. JENNY MCCARTHY FROM 'THE VIEW' IS VERY OUTSPOKEN ON THE SUBJECT SAYING IT CAUSED AUTISM IN HER CHILD. THAT STUDY HAS BEEN DISCREDITED THOUGH AND THE DOCTOR WHO WROTE IT LOST HIS MEDICAL LICENSE. STILL THE INFORMATION FROM IT REMAINS ON THE WEB. if you talk to most physicians most nurses they'll say immunizations are one of the top ten health achievements of the past century. DOCTORS CONTINUE TO URGE PEOPLE TO TRUST THE SCIENCE -- AND SAY VACCINATIONS WILL NOT ONLY KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HEALTHIER BUT EVERYONE ELSE. TODD KURTZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. EVERY STATE ALLOWS EXEMPTIONS FROM VACCINES. IN NEW MEXICO, YOU HAVE TO GIVE A MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS REASON. OFFICIALS SAY IT'S NOT VERY TOUGH TO BE EXEMPT.